Meet Beverly Regional Airport’s new manager

Bob Snuck started his new role at Beverly Regional Airport just about two months ago. And so far, he’s enjoying it.

“It’s a really nice airport with a lot of good tenants and a large number of aircraft,” he said. “And it has probably the best airport commission I’ve ever worked with.”

Snuck said he worked with former longtime airport manager Bob Mezzetti, who retired at the end of January, for about a week before taking over the helm.

“A lot of stuff is pretty standard,” said Snuck, who most recently served as airport manager at Pittsfield Municipal Airport.

Snuck, who flew helicopters in the Army and worked for the Federal Aviation Administration for 27 years before retiring, said he has done everything from inspecting airports to air traffic control.

“I love airports and aircraft and aviation,” he said.

Snuck grew up in East Hartford, Conn., where he developed his passion for aviation due to the close proximity to Pratt & Whitney’s Rentschler Field and Hartford–Brainard Airport.

“We would ride our bikes over and watch the planes take off and land,” he recalled.

Soon, Snuck was working at Rentschler Field; he started out in maintenance and worked his way up to manager before joining the U.S. Army, where he piloted Cobra helicopters.

“I joined so I could have my choice of flight school,” he said.

After serving nearly three decades with the FAA in various roles, Snuck, who has two adult daughters, retired in 2005.

But his love of aviation couldn’t keep him away from the work.

“It’s a little bit of everything,” Snuck said of his new role at Beverly Regional Airport.

From public relations and reviewing of leases to grant requests and new construction, Snuck is in charge of it all.

And there are several projects already on Snuck’s plate, including plans for two new hangars, sale of property on Sam Fonzo Drive, equipment acquisition, runway reconstruction and updating the Master Plan.

But Snuck said none of it would be possible if he didn't work with a great team.

“We have a great staff here,” he said, giving kudos to assistant Kim Crofts and David Meuse, director of field maintenance. “I’m very fortunate.”